Register a SA Forums Account here!
JOINING THE SA FORUMS WILL REMOVE THIS BIG AD, THE ANNOYING UNDERLINED ADS, AND STUPID INTERSTITIAL ADS!!!

You can: log in, read the tech support FAQ, or request your lost password. This dumb message (and those ads) will appear on every screen until you register! Get rid of this crap by registering your own SA Forums Account and joining roughly 150,000 Goons, for the one-time price of $9.95! We charge money because it costs us money per month for bills, and since we don't believe in showing ads to our users, we try to make the money back through forum registrations.
 
  • Locked thread
Kira Akashiya
Feb 2, 2013
1. C
2. B
3. A

Adbot
ADBOT LOVES YOU

Happy Blue
Oct 18, 2012
1. C
2. B
3. B

Is answering C to the first question likely to offend either of the people we're talking to, and if so, is there possibly a more diplomatic way to put that?

Lionfish isn't here, and while we don't like him, it would be very rude to appoint ourselves leader in his absence, while he has no say in things. We could be the leader of the ring; that might work as a compromise. If we could get seven people, that might give us even more mythic help; Rostala is a worshipper of Vinga(Orlanth), Esrolare is an Ernaldan, we're associated with Lhankor Mhy, and our other party member is a trader-I don't know if Argan Argar could stand in for Issaries, but Yrsa probably does!

While I think we should look for fellow companions elsewhere, we should probably ask the innkeeper before we leave. Possibly she might know of anyone who shares our background in the area, and she already knows where we're heading, and that we have valuables; no one else who knows where we're staying has to know that.

Incidentally, we should ask Esrolare if Darasin has been initiated yet, provided that's not a rude question in Orlanthi culture, so we're aware of the proper mythic precedents. While we're at it, go tell her everything's alright now before we leave, or she's almost certainly going to wander out on her own to check on things, and that won't be healthy for her.

We should be present for any negotiations about guards, both to ensure proper accordance with the myths, so as to gain more protection, and to ensure their trustworthiness. One of the arguments for hiring more guards is that we can guarantee their honesty. Take Rostala with us; as long as our priestess and her daughter stay in the inn, they're protected by hospitality, and we don't want to give them the chance to get into another argument when we're not here to break it up. Also, Rostala might feel less sore about the idea if she has a more direct hand in picking the additional companions; all Esrolare will care about is that they're trustworthy and competent.

Happy Blue fucked around with this message at 11:51 on Apr 8, 2014

Jenx
Oct 17, 2012

Behold the Bull of Heaven!

Happy Blue posted:

1. C
2. B
3. B

Is answering C to the first question likely to offend either of the people we're talking to, and if so, is there possibly a more diplomatic way to put that?

While you have no way of knowing that, you would suspect they probably won't really be offended. Rostala and Esrolare will find Yrsa to be quite strange for her vies of herself, but then again, they (and most Orlanthi, really) see her as strange anyway - She can write, she can read and she walks around with sheep wool hanging from her face. Saying you are neither a man nor a woman is just another thing on top of everything else.

Darasin is not initiated, there is no need to ask about it either - she has no initiation tattoos on her, plus she's only 12. Most children get initiated somewhere between 13 and 17 years of age, depending on circumstances. Until she passes her initiation there is no way of knowing what the Gods have decided for her.

Jenx fucked around with this message at 12:52 on Apr 8, 2014

Happy Blue
Oct 18, 2012
How close is Moonbroth to Pavis? Would seven(eight, with Darasin) people be a large enough group to attract notice, seeing as we're not a caravan, but a single wagon(Does Lionfish have a wagon)?

If we talk to the innkeeper, we should trade news. She might want to know about the recent Lunar attacks, and as an innkeeper, she might have heard things about the current state of affairs in Prax. It's clear our own scrolls and maps are lacking current political details, etc. Incidentally, could we tell if the innkeeper is Ernaldan?

Jenx
Oct 17, 2012

Behold the Bull of Heaven!

Happy Blue posted:

How close is Moonbroth to Pavis? Would seven(eight, with Darasin) people be a large enough group to attract notice, seeing as we're not a caravan, but a single wagon(Does Lionfish have a wagon)?

If we talk to the innkeeper, we should trade news. She might want to know about the recent Lunar attacks, and as an innkeeper, she might have heard things about the current state of affairs in Prax. It's clear our own scrolls and maps are lacking current political details, etc. Incidentally, could we tell if the innkeeper is Ernaldan?

Your maps don't have any proper indication of the length of the road from here to Pavis, but asking around people they tell you it takes about two weeks of travel with a wagon. Lionfish has so far only rode on a horse, and you have no idea how he plans on transporting his trade goods - he hasn't mentioned any of it.

As for drawing attention to yourselves - you can imagine there's a fairly consistent traffic on the Moonbroth-Pavis road, but who knows when and why nomads might decide to take their chances.

The innkeeper is an Ernaldan, because she is a woman that has passed her initiation. However, judging from the several Communication runes () you can see on her arms and face, you guess she is at least initiated into the cult of Issaries, if not a devotee of him.

Tindalos
May 1, 2008
1. C
2. B
3. C
4. I'm going to suggest something utterly unthinkable. But we need to get a Lunar. Lionfish will know that Pavis itself has a bunch of Lunars, and so if we get one in our group, they're more likely to treat us well.

Jenx
Oct 17, 2012

Behold the Bull of Heaven!
Votes are in, post will be made later:

1. What do you say?
A. "No. I am a woman both in body and in soul." - 1
B. "I agree. Though I may be a woman by form, I am a man by soul."
C. "No, I care nothing for Earth or Air. My devotion is to Knowledge, not any gender." - 3
D. Some other response? - 2

2. Also, do you agree to be the leader?
A. Agree.
B. Refuse, say you should work as a ring and have no one be leader. - 6
C. Refuse, suggest someone else should lead instead (who?) - 2 (Counting Bryan's answer here)


3. Where do you go look for people to join your party?
A. Ask around in the Sleeping Alynx Inn. - 1
B. Go out at the caravansarai and look for people there. - 2
C. Go to the city and look to find someone there. - 1
D. Ask someone from your party to look around (who?)
E. Something else entirely?

4. What kind of people are you looking to recruit?
4.1 Animal Nomads and some non-adventuring fighter - 1
4.2 Pol-Joni, some local boys, Animal Nomads if nothing else - 2
4.3 Lunars (*gasp*) - 1

Pladdicus
Aug 13, 2010
Missed it, but to throw my voice in anyway

C
D A ring has a leader, as should this one.
B
Adventurers, traders, people who travel a great deal

Happy Blue
Oct 18, 2012
Missed the last question, but I'd like to see an Odaylan, and a member of whichever group Jenx thinks would be most interesting to see and still work well with the party. I don't know much about Prax other than what comes up in King of Dragon Pass, so it might be nice to see someone from one of the lesser-known groups.

Tran
Feb 17, 2011

It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Especially in such a fine settin' as this. Just need us some music an' a brawl an' we'll be set.
Just don't hire a Morokanth. It might get awkward.

Jenx
Oct 17, 2012

Behold the Bull of Heaven!
Esrolare nods in agreement with your statement. "Ah yes, I meant no offense with my question. Your devotion to Lhankor Mhy is admirable."

You ask the innkeeper to go to your room and tell Darasin that she can come down and everything is resolved, and as you start explaining that you would prefer to be an advisor in a ring around some other leader, Lionfish walks into the inn.



"Ah, ladies! A fine establishment you have found for us, and I see the festivities have already begone without me!" As Rostala grits her teeth and gives him a smoldering look, Lionfish visibly flinches back. "Ah, am...I interrupting something?"

"No, no. In fact, I was hoping you would arrive soon. Sit down." As Lionfish sits on the empty spot on your table he looks a bit concerned at you and the other women seated. For the first time in quite a while he doesn't have that annoying grin on his face. "Listen to me well, Golden-Eyed - You have been helpful in your knowledge, and I, most of all, appreciate that. However, your insistence on acting without regard to our group is becoming too troublesome. As such, we are making some changes to our group dynamic."

You explain to Lionfish your idea of hiring more people and that you would like to form an unofficial Ring for your party, and you say you would wish Rostala to act as it's leader, for she is the one closest to Orlanth from all of you. She seems unsure in how to react, and tries to explain to you that she is a wanderer and not a chieftain, but you quickly cut her off and recite one of the several poems of Orlanth's youth before he became the cheif of the Storm Tribe. There is precedent, and she should accept it.

Lionfish listens to you with obvious interest, and when you ask if he would be willing to be the Talking Companion in your group, he gives you a smile (an oddly sincere one, you notice) and gives a deep bow to Rostala. "My Lady, I pledge on my honor, and I swear by my God that I shall follow you and serve to the best of my abilities." You smile yourself, for you know that Lionfish is being honest in his proposal. Darasin comes down from the second floor, and you explain to her your plan as well, and she seems happy that people have stopped fighting and arguing.

"Now that this is done, we must talk about finding the right people for our group." You suggest to Rostala that the two of you would go around the caravansarai and talk to some of the travelers, and see if you can find people that are both honest in willing to help for you, as well as being up to her standards in fighting prowess. Lionfish informs you that after arranging his own deals in acquiring his trade goods, he has also made sure we will get extra food for our trip, as well as finding a merchant that was willing to give you good riding zebras for your horses, if you so desire. However his livestock will arrive in two days, so you will have some time to interview people.

*Montage Time*


The two days pass surprisingly fast. You ask the innkeeper if she could direct you to people who might be interested in the work you are offering, and she lists several individuals or places where you might find such people.

You and Rostala then spend the time talking to them, either in the various inns and taverns at the caravansarai, being careful to avoid the Lunar guards who patrol the place and Lunar merchants who arrive and leave. Lionfish seems to leave a lot more often than you, plying his trade and religious duties in the nearby market. You see him talking to various merchants at the caravansarai too, though distressingly he seems quite friendly with several people of obviously Lunar belonging.

1. What do you do about Lionfish's dealings with Lunars.
A. Interrogate him about it, see if he's not trying to sell you out.
B. Let him be, he's doing his work.
C. Let him be, but make sure to follow him more closely when you can.


At the end of all this walking around you have managed to acquire more than just sore feet, but also a decent list of people who might potentially be useful for guards. At lunch on the second day you sit down with Rostala, Esrolare and Lionfish and start discussing which of these people you should hire.

2. Who do you take along with you as your guards?
Pick as many as you wish, though keep in mind that more people would mean you have to pay more. You still have enough money, but your funds are not limitless.

A. Laran, a Sable Tribe rider who doesn't seem to be personally associated with the Lunars, and who's decently proficient with fighting from sable-back.
B. Rostalos Pol-Joni, a member of the Orlanthi nomads, who like you, is trying to keep a low profile in Moonbroth, and is going to Pavis, so he's willing to work as a guard for a fellow Storm-worshiper.
C. Barazan Blackeyes, a local fighter who seems to often act as caravan guard. He refuses to state his affiliations, but his payment is acceptably low, and he is quite a competent fighter. He doesn't have a ride, and as such you will have to provide one for him.
D. Whispers-to-the-Grass, an elderly High Llama tribe shaman who says that some of his spirits have told him to follow you in your travels. He offers to come with you for no payment.
E. Banashi and Belavani, two Yelmalion brothers, who work as professional caravan escorts. You must hire both of them at the same time, and their payment is quite hight, but they seem to be very competent and disciplined fighters. They have no mounts, and say they would not need ones for the trip to Pavis.
F. Derrik, a local Orlanthi youth who tried to hit on Esrolare. After Rostala beat the tar out of him, she said he's actually quite strong, and he offered to work for you for a pitiful payment. He says he will find his own ride, if you accept him.
G. Destor Ortossi, a merchant of Issaries from the Garhound clan of Pavis county (Lionfish explains that the Garhound are currently the dominant Orlanthi clan in the area), who is returning to Pavis along with his two bodyguards, and offers to join your group. He requires no payment, since he is just traveling alongside you.



((Also, I have written a Character Sheet in the second post of the thread.))

Jenx fucked around with this message at 22:32 on Apr 12, 2014

my dad
Oct 17, 2012

this shall be humorous
1. D

Casually ask him if he found out something interesting from the Lunars. It notifies him that we're aware of what he's doing without blatantly saying that we have doubts about him.

2. ABDFG

Basically, everyone except Barazan and the Bash Brothers. I don't trust Barazan, and I'm too fond of our money to waste it on overprotecting ourselves. I'm kinda unsure about Laran, but I figure that he'd be useful if we run into other Sable Riders.

edit: I love your artwork. :allears:

my dad fucked around with this message at 10:22 on Apr 12, 2014

Hogge Wild
Aug 21, 2012

by FactsAreUseless
Pillbug
1B
2BEFG


No need for thuggees.

Chatrapati
Nov 6, 2012
1. B I don't think Lionfish is stupid enough to sell us out, especially since he's been working with Rostala whom I doubt the Lunars would be too pleased with.

2. BDF Rostalos will be familiar with the land and is also an Orlanthi; Whispers-to-the-Grass might help us in diplomatic situations with any Praxians and having a spirit talker in a land of spirits would be useful; Derrik makes me wary, but he's strong and local, hopefully he can get a mount through legal means.

ConfusedPig
Mar 27, 2013


my dad posted:

1. D

Casually ask him if he found out something interesting from the Lunars. It notifies him that we're aware of what he's doing without blatantly saying that we have doubts about him.

2. ABDFG

Basically, everyone except Barazan and the Bash Brothers. I don't trust Barazan, and I'm too fond of our money to waste it on overprotecting ourselves. I'm kinda unsure about Laran, but I figure that he'd be useful if we run into other Sable Riders.

edit: I love your artwork. :allears:

This.

RandomPauI
Nov 24, 2006


Grimey Drawer

my dad posted:

1. D

Casually ask him if he found out something interesting from the Lunars. It notifies him that we're aware of what he's doing without blatantly saying that we have doubts about him.

2. ABDFG

Basically, everyone except Barazan and the Bash Brothers. I don't trust Barazan, and I'm too fond of our money to waste it on overprotecting ourselves. I'm kinda unsure about Laran, but I figure that he'd be useful if we run into other Sable Riders.

edit: I love your artwork. :allears:

My dad won me over.

Haystack
Jan 23, 2005






Awww, poor Grag :(


my dad posted:

1. D

Casually ask him if he found out something interesting from the Lunars. It notifies him that we're aware of what he's doing without blatantly saying that we have doubts about him.

2. ABDFG

Basically, everyone except Barazan and the Bash Brothers. I don't trust Barazan, and I'm too fond of our money to waste it on overprotecting ourselves. I'm kinda unsure about Laran, but I figure that he'd be useful if we run into other Sable Riders.

edit: I love your artwork. :allears:

This

Orson1981
Sep 11, 2009

my dad posted:

1. D

Casually ask him if he found out something interesting from the Lunars. It notifies him that we're aware of what he's doing without blatantly saying that we have doubts about him.

2. ABDFG



Yes

Tindalos
May 1, 2008
1. B

He seems like such a nice fellow, what could go wrong with trusting him?

2. B,D,E,G

Rostalos is a Pol Joni, they're awesome in many ways.
Banashi and Belavani are good, despite their costs, as they're happy to walk, they know what they're doing, and they'll make good night guards.
Wispers and Destor have the best price, free.

Kira Akashiya
Feb 2, 2013
1. A
2. A, E

Jenx
Oct 17, 2012

Behold the Bull of Heaven!
A sort of mini-update and a vote count. Full post will come later after this is resolved.

1. What do you do about Lionfish's dealings with Lunars.
A. Interrogate him about it, see if he's not trying to sell you out. - 1
B. Let him be, he's doing his work. - 4
C. Let him be, but make sure to follow him more closely when you can.
D. So hey, Lionfish. Any interesting news from the Lunars? - 5

"Oh nothing in particular" he says, as you all gather for your morning meal. "Some are old trade partners that recently converted to the Lunar way. Some of them mentioned that there's news that the Big Rubble near Pavis has been closed off when they left. Something about outbreak of troll attacks." He takes another swing from his beer and waves his hand. "But don't worry, they would surely clear that up by the time we arrive. And hey, trolls are not all that scary and frightening, are they Grag?" as he says this he kicks Grag in the legs, making the trollkin fall to the ground in an ungainly pile of limbs and whimperings.

2. Who do you take along with you as your guards?
A. Laran - 6
B. Rostalos Pol-Joni - 8
C. Barazan Blackeyes
D. Whispers-to-the-Grass - 7
E. Banashi and Belavani - 3
F. Derrik - 7
G. Destor Ortossi - 7


Barazan got no votes, so he's not coming, and the two Yelmalions got only 3 votes, so they're not coming either. Of the others, everyone got 7 or more votes except Laran the Sable. Since you picked a Pol-Joni and a High Llama rider, Laran is starting to doubt if he wants to work with you at all.

He says he will only join you if either Rostalos or Whispers leaves, since he doesn't want to deal with enemy tribes.
A. Refuse him, he's not coming with you.
B. Accept, don't take Rostalos with you.
C. Acept, don't take Whispers-to-the-Grass with you.

Hogge Wild
Aug 21, 2012

by FactsAreUseless
Pillbug
If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. C, we don't need Whispers-to-the-Grass.

my dad
Oct 17, 2012

this shall be humorous
While Yrsa probably doesn't mind seeing a trollkin kicked around, I get the feeling that I'd enjoy seeing Lionfish getting eaten by a troll.

A - :byewhore:

RandomPauI
Nov 24, 2006


Grimey Drawer
A, but be polite about it and thank him for his consideration.

Ganjalingus
Apr 21, 2008

RandomPauI posted:

A, but be polite about it and thank him for his consideration.

This.

ConfusedPig
Mar 27, 2013


RandomPauI posted:

A, but be polite about it and thank him for his consideration.

This. Rostalos and Whispers-to-the-Grass both seem more interesting than him anyway.

Haystack
Jan 23, 2005





I'm going to argue for B. A little investigating will reveal that Sables are dominant on the plains, and Pol-Joni on the wane.

Jenx
Oct 17, 2012

Behold the Bull of Heaven!
Just a heads-up - I'll be away for a few days, so expect an update some time next week.

Haifisch
Nov 13, 2010

Objection! I object! That was... objectionable!



Taco Defender
B, for reasons Haystack mentioned.

Happy Blue
Oct 18, 2012
C, why are we taking an elderly shaman when we're hiring guards? I got the impression we were going for people more skilled at combat. Even if we don't have to pay him, we'll still have to feed and provide for him.

Down With People
Oct 31, 2012

The child delights in violence.
A.

Don't wanna mess with spirits, and Pol-Joni are bros.

LLSix
Jan 20, 2010

The real power behind countless overlords

A

Jenx
Oct 17, 2012

Behold the Bull of Heaven!
With Sacred Time over, I'm back online. Post will be made tomorrow. Cheers!

Hogge Wild
Aug 21, 2012

by FactsAreUseless
Pillbug

Jenx posted:

With Sacred Time over, I'm back online. Post will be made tomorrow. Cheers!

How much did you sac?

Jenx
Oct 17, 2012

Behold the Bull of Heaven!

Hogge Wild posted:

How much did you sac?

Not much, since it was raining all the drat time. Seriously, my grandmother's village always has such backwards weather compared to the rest of the country.


Anyways, it seems that Laran won't be coming with the party, so this will be addressed during the next big post. (Expect a wall of text again)

Jenx
Oct 17, 2012

Behold the Bull of Heaven!
V. Leaving Moonbroth



On the morning of Freeze Day of Fertility Week your group gathers at the caravansarai and prepare to leave. After much discussion and arguments, you have decided to take with you Rostalos of the Pol-Joni, Destor Ortossi, the Garhound merchant, a local boy named Derrik and an old shaman called Whispers-to-the-Grass. Lionfish has acquired your new riding zebras, as well as another ox to pull the cart in case something happens. You don't buy any food for the animals, since he, Rostalos and Whispers all agree that the grass along the road will be enough to feed them along the way. He also brought a second zebra for himself, on which he put his trade goods.

Laran of the Sables simply nodded when you said you wouldn't need him, said you were losing his valuable knowledge and hoped you don't live to regret your decision. You're not sure if he was trying to threaten you or not, but it doesn't matter either way.

Whispers (as you start calling him) is perhaps the most peculiar person you have met so far. You can't determine his age, but it is obvious he is incredibly old, for his skin is wrinkled, despite the obvious muscles underneath it. He wears little more than a dirty loincloth, and his body is covered face to toes in tattoos and drawings, that are so intricate and dense you feel your head spin if you look at them for too long. He also wears a huge amount of trinkets and charms on his person, tied to his wrists, ankles, neck, ears, hair or just hanging loosely. Perhaps the most disconcerting part (as you decide, after making along and extensive list of them) of his character seem to be his perfectly, brilliantly white teeth. Well, either that, or the fact that his High LLama tends to look at you with obviously intelligent eyes in which ghostly blue flames flicker from time to time.

Rostalos of the Pol-Joni, your other nomadic escort, is hardly familiar either. While you have read that the Pol-Joni are Orlanthi such as you, and Rostalos clearly shows the tattoos of an initiate of Orlanth, the way he is dressed and his language seem just as alien as those of Whispers. Drabbed in skins and leather and carrying a very powerful-looking bow, Rostalos looks nothing like the men from your village. Despite all of that, he and Rostala seem to form a powerful bond, and you can see them talking and laughing and, rather oddly, hitting each other on the face from time to time. As you ask Esrolare about it afterward, she just sneers. "Men who wander tend to act even more uncouth than most. Still, it is a good thing that our leader has found someone with which to share the less pleasant sides of her character."

Destor Ortossi of the Garhound, though, is more of a person to your linking. Despite being a staunch follower of the Talking God, and tends to keep talking after he has had a few drinks, you find that the older man is a learned and pleasant individual. Even more to your surprise, you find out he has learned how to read two of the Sacred Scripts, though he admits he never learned how to write either of them, for he had no use of that. His own caravan consists of two wagons full of cloth and pots, as well as various bronzeworks, which he is brining back to the Garhound clan lands. The two burly young men that accompany him, you learn, are in fact his two eldest sons. They both seem like reliable and honest men to you, so you are glad that they will be part of your group.

Derrik, on the other hand, you are not so sure. On the morning of your departure, he arrived with a zebra of his own, as well as a rather patchy leather armor and a bronze sword that you are not sure has seen a whetstone in the past ten years.
You are dismayed when you learn that he has only been initiated into adulthood just three years ago. While he certainly seems strong, you start to have doubts about bringing him along. Rostala insists that he has the making of a strong warrior in him, and you have to agree with her. His obvious intentions towards Esrolare are less agreeable though. The man is obviously still a child at mind, for the only reaction his loud boasting got was a curt insult from Esrolare and another sound beating by Rostala.

As you pay Aslora Silverhaired for your stay, she wishes you good luck upon your travels, and promises to sacrifice a sheep to Issaries to help you in your travels. You thank her, and in return gift her with a short, but heartfelt poem praising her virtues. After you recite it to her you also give her a framed parchment with the poem written on it as an additional gift.

You leave Moonbroth through the north-eastern road, and don't encounter any obvious resistance along the way. In fact, most people don't really pay you any attention at all. After you feel you are a safe distance from the settlement, you gather everyone around you and Rostala. As everyone listens, you tell a story of how Orlanth formed a ring during his travels, for he needed to trust the advice of the people that were with him, and so you will now do the same thing. Everyone, in turn, swears to follow Rostala as the caravan's leader for the duration of your trip to Pavis, and she in turn swears to every person to protect them and lead them justly. Satisfied, you help Rostala to figure out the most optimal arrangement for your party.

You and Rostala ride up front with Esrolare and Darasin riding in the wagon right besides you (So does Grag, who was more than overjoyed to not have to walk for the next two weeks, despite the fact he is forced to ride on the wagon with bound hands, legs and mouth). Immediately after her is Destor and his two wagons of goods, along with his two sons, and Derrik gets sent to guard the rear, after a quiet, but stern recommendation from Esrolare. Rostalos and Whispers-to-the-Grass ride on the two sides of the wagons and act as lookouts.

With this arrangement, you travel for five, thankfully uneventful, days. The only people you encounter are a couple of other caravans, both going towards Moonbroth from Pavis. You spend most of the time getting to know the people who ride with you.

1. Who did you talk with the most during the trip so far?
A. Esrolare
B. Rostala
C. Lionfish
D. Whispers-to-the-Grass
E. Rostalos Pol-Joni
F. Destor Ortossi
G. Derrik


During the nights, you came to appreciate the larger group you were with, as it meant shorter guard shifts for everyone, and it gave you more time to do something else.

2. What did you do during the night stops?
A. Train with Rostala, Derrik and the Garhound boys in spear and sword fighting.
B. Ask Whispers-to-the-Grass about spirits and his magic
C. Try and do some reading in the dim light of the fire.
D. Something else?


On Wildday things seem to be going along as they have for the past week, when still early in the morning, you pass through a rather peculiar site on a nearby low hill.



You send Whispers to investigate, and after the old shaman catches up with you he says that it's a shaman's circle - the skulls and stones around it are painted in various runes and symbols, and he saw ritual objects all over the place and felt powerful magic around it. "What is strange, Beard Woman, is that I saw no mount anywhere around it, and I did not recognize any spirits either."

Rostala orders everyone to keep a look out for any potential danger from here onward and everyone seems to be on edge for the rest of the day. For better or worse, nothing happens until the evening, and as Elmal slowly rides towards the horizon, you are greeted by an even stranger sight.



A strange animal that Rostalos tells you is something called a "baboon" is standing on a nearby tall rock. It's fur is painted in runes and powerful symbols, and what you suspect are charms dangle from it. Stranger still, you see a large bone, wrapped in leather, strapped to his back and a spear with a stone head in one if it's paws. It would appear that it was obviously waiting for you, because when you get close to it, it opens it's eyes and stares at your group. After a while, it starts screeching and growling, making noises you have never heard before. You and Rostala exchange glances, and you quickly tell Esrolare to be ready to hide in case of an attack.

Ironically or not, as you finish saying your warning, you turn to see the baboon hurl it's spear at you and before you can react the large shaft slams into your left shoulder, slamming you to the ground. Your entire left side burns with flaring pain as you quickly get up and see Rostala and the others dismount and draw their weapons. You pull Steel Feather from it's scabbard and move forward, and only then do you also see that the baboon seems to have a glow around it, like a fire burning from within it's chest. After a few moments, your mind finally comes to the obvious conclusion - This creature is performing a mythic deed of some kind, for it has the aura of a heroquester around it.

3. What do you do about the baboon?
Listing all possible tactical options would be stupid and boring, so I'm just leaving this as an open question.

Jenx fucked around with this message at 15:41 on Jun 2, 2014

Magnus Venator
Jul 17, 2006

Trekker på 1/5 sek. Svak for kvinner og hasard. Nervøs, innesluttet, med psykopatiske trekk.
1F: The Garhound fellows seem nice enough. Ask them about Pavis and the settled areas.
2B: This is a land of spirits. Seems wise to learn as much as possible while we can. Also make sure we ask Whispers to explain the basics of how to act around the local spirits and nomads in general. Maybe we can knowledge our way out of the worst social mistakes.
3: We need to figure out which part we are playing in the Heroquest. If our knowledge fails us, get close to Whispers and ask him for advice on how to proceed. Hopefully there are Baboon myths where the victims are spared after the requisite spearing.

Kira Akashiya
Feb 2, 2013
1. D
2. B

Haystack
Jan 23, 2005





1. F Ortossi will be the easiest to learn from in the short time we have together
2. B. Buuut we also don't want to ignore the really cool weird shaman
3. I... may have suggested the baboon heroquester :ohdear:. Anyway, the most important thing to do when confronted with a hostile heroquest is to figure out your role in it so that you can subvert it. However, we have little or no knowledge of baboon mythology, so our only real sources of information are Whispers... and the baboon. So ask Whispers to see what he knows, and then very carefully observe the baboon, yourself and your companions to see what the heroquest wants you to do.

And if things really go south? AWAKEN THE STONES.

Adbot
ADBOT LOVES YOU

Wentley
Feb 7, 2012
2. B.
3. What a fascinating opportunity to learn!

  • Locked thread